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Careers Information

A Career in Respiratory Physiology

What is a Respiratory Physiologist?

Respiratory Physiologists work directly with patients to deliver diagnostic tests of breathing and treatment for lung disease. They are usually involved in exercise testing, sleep studies and delivery of ventilation to patients on the wards and at home.

The role of a Respiratory Physiologist

Working in partnership with doctors, nurses and other health care professionals, Respiratory Physiologists use a variety of equipment and techniques to measure and monitor patients’ respiratory function. Patients may be referred because of chest pains, abnormal chest x-rays, breathing difficulties, respiratory disease or sleep disorders.

The work of a Respiratory Physiologist must be reliable and accurate as patients’ lives often depend on their skills. They are continually increasing their knowledge as laboratory techniques and research advances are made. The Respiratory Physiologist will work with computers linked to sophisticated, hi-tech respiratory equipment. Measurements made typically include: spirometry and lung volumes, respiratory gas exchange, blood gases, response to treatment, breathing during sleep, allergy testing and physiological responses to exercise. The information obtained is used to assist in the diagnosis of disease, to identify treatment regimes, to measure the effects of treatment and to estimate likely risks during surgery.
Practitioners are also responsible for the maintenance and calibration of all equipment, including therapeutic/diagnostic equipment issued for use in the patients’ home.

Research in chest disease may involve investigations to discover new information about disease and work towards cures and improved treatments.
What does it take to be an effective Respiratory Physiologist?
As a Respiratory Physiologist you will need to have a keen interest in science, maths and human biology.

You must enjoy working with technical and specialised measurement equipment.

You also need to have good communication skills as you will be working as a multi disciplinary team and a sympathetic approach when working with patients of all ages and disabilities.

In some cases you will be dealing with life and death situations so you need to be emotionally resilient and level-headed.

Career Opportunities

Physiological science offers long-term career prospects which include research, education, management and specialised work in the field of respiratory physiology. Most employment opportunities exist within the NHS, however other opportunities do exist within Her Majesty’s Forces, university research, governmental departments and the private sector. The skills of a qualified respiratory physiologist can be used throughout the UK and may be recognised worldwide.

Where can I find out more?

Contacting the respiratory department of your local hospital is usually a good place to start.

Job adverts can be found in the local and national press or on the NHS Jobs Website.

Which Course is for me?

The Education and Training Committee has established many courses to cover a wide ranges of topics in the field of Respiratory Medicine and Lung Function testing, targeting both primary and secondary care professionals. Please select the course which you are interested in, and you will be taken to the relevent page containing the course content and details on how to enrol.

Information for Patients

Lung Function Testing

Lung Function Tests are a core function of ARTP members job roles. They usually involve breathing or blowing into a piece of equipment, and can range from performing the same manoeuvre several times (as in Spirometry, please see the video) to more complex measurements involving breathing specialist gas mixtures (such as a gas transfer measurement).

Membership of the ARTP

Membership of the ARTP is open to individuals and companies working in the field of Respiratory Clinical Physiology. Current ARTP members include Clinical Physiologists, Clinical Scientists, Physicians, Nurses and Equipment Manufacturers. There are many benefits that are exclusive to ARTP members, so please expore these pages to see why you should join us.

Quality Diagnostic Spirometry

The ARTP Spirometry Committee, which comes under the the Education and Training Committee, are the guardians of quality diagnostic spirometry testing in the UK. Using a network of ARTP Spirometry Centres, we offer a robust system of accreditation catering for practitioners with a variety of experience and clinical practice. Please explore these pages for further information.

About the ARTP

What We Represent

The Association for Respiratory Technology & Physiology (ARTP), through standards of training and quality assurance, are the professional guardians of physiological measurement issues in respiratory medicine in the UK. With over 35 years of experience in the design and delivery of lung function services, ARTP provides the only national, professionally recognised, qualifications in Respiratory Function Testing and Spirometry in the UK.

For experts in Sleep Medicine

ARTP SLEEP is now being developed to represent and support all healthcare professionals in the delivery of care, training and development of sleep services. Intended benefits include: a specific email Forum to discuss sleep diagnostic and therapeutic issues, access to ARTP SLEEP Members Web Pages, access to training materials, access to ARTP Consortium information, and a chance to be involved in formulating and designing sleep apnoea policy.

These pages are intended for those who currently practice respiratory physiology and medicine, and aims to provide an overview of the latest news and employment opportunities as well as providing information relating to careers, paediatrics and professional registration.

More detailed information, and well as other issues affecting our speciality, may be for ARTP members only and can be accessed via this link.

Standards

The ARTP has also published several Standards documents cxovering areas including Quality Assured Diagnostic Spirometry and Department Size Report, which can be accessed in this section.